" HUNTER KILLER TEAM " 1954 U.S. NAVY ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE FILM USS GILBERT ISLANDS 30102

About

This 1954 issue of the U.S. Navy's Screen Magazine features the Hunter Killer Team -- the work of anti-submarine warfare as conducted by the men of the fleet. An adaptation of an episode of the TV show "See it Now", this film presents a compelling look at the ASW problem as it existed in the early 1950s. It features the USS Gilbert Islands CVE-107, operating off the coast of the U.S. East Coast with a group of destroyers including USS Owen (DD-536), a Fletcher-class destroyer. The USS Becuna (SS/AGSS-319), a Balao-class submarine, is also seen in the film, working as the target for the ASW team. USS Gilbert Islands is equipped with both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft which search out the submarine. The operation concludes with a successful simulated attack on the submarine, demonstrating the Navy's commitment to maintaining control of the seas, crucial for national security. The Commodore reflects on the complexity of submarine warfare and the Navy’s readiness for such challenges in the event of a conflict with the Soviet Union.

00:00 The narrator is on the flight deck of the USS Gilbert Islands, part of a hunter-killer group, 150 miles off the east coast, searching for a submarine.

1:18:The group consists of the carrier, 14 aircraft, four helicopters, and five destroyers. The USS Owen is the flagship of the destroyers, and the operation's code name is Firefly, with the carrier's code word being Dragon.

2:03;A Commodore explains how they receive information about a submarine's presence, either from ships, intelligence sources, or aircraft. He outlines the challenges of detecting submarines, mentioning the difficulty of using various electronic devices and underwater listening.

3:03:The focus shifts to the US Navy submarine Vicuna, simulating an enemy craft with an atomic warhead, about 300 miles east of Destin, heading toward Boston. The captain discusses the submarine's mission to approach Boston undetected, running on snorkel and diving when needed.

4:08: The captain of Vicuna plans a maneuver to submerge, avoiding detection by a nearby liberty ship. The crew prepares for a battery-powered submersion, as the submarine's systems switch over from diesel to battery.

6:17:The Vicuna submarine dives and levels off at 55 feet, with the captain using the periscope for a quick radar sweep. The focus shifts to the USS Gilbert Islands as the ship receives information about a new submarine sighting 400 miles away.

7:33:The destroyer group and carrier are alerted about a possible submarine sighting. The task group begins preparations for a search, and the planes are made ready for launch. The combat information center (CIC) provides a briefing on the search plan.

9:26: The first search flight is launched with two teams of Grumman Guardians. The Vicuna submarine continues its journey, running on snorkel. The radar operator on the Vicuna is cautious of detection and continues the search, but no definite confirmation of detection is made.

12:01:The first flight from the USS Gilbert Islands reports radar contact, but the Commodore orders them to return. The helicopters and destroyers are dispatched for the next phase of the hunt.

15:09:The helicopters, equipped with sonar detection gear, assist in the search. The destroyer group is actively tracking the submarine's position using sonar, and helicopters guide the destroyers toward the submarine.

16:16:The sonar room of the destroyer picks up a ping from the submarine. As the destroyers close in on the target, they prepare to launch "hedgehogs" (a type of anti-submarine weapon) based on the sonar contact.

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